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If you have information to be included in the next issue of the PEP bulletin, please send your text, image and link by Tuesday at 12pm to pep@portsmouthcc.gov.uk.
Inclusion
Anti-Bullying Week: Teaching about banter and bullying |
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According to NatterHub's Cyberbullying Data Report 2023/24, 83% of 9-10 year olds say they find it hard to tell the difference between banter and bullying.
The Anti-bullying Alliance have developed a toolkit giving guidance, advice and tips for teaching children and young people about banter and bullying which we thought would be of interest to many of you.
This is available to download free from their website's section: Teaching about banter and bullying.
Portsmouth SEND Local Offer On Tour: Supporting families with SEMH needs |
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Families in Portsmouth with children and young people up to 25 years old who have social, emotional, and mental health (SEMH) needs are invited to attend a special Local Offer On Tour event. This session will be held at Central Library (lower ground floor) on Tuesday 3 December, from 10am to 12:30pm.
This events provide an invaluable opportunity for families to connect with professionals and local community groups, offering essential support and advice in an informal setting. We kindly ask schools and academies to share this information with parents and carers who may benefit from attending.
Attendees will have the chance to engage in group discussions, ask questions, and enjoy light refreshments. Children are welcome to join, with activities provided to keep them engaged. Additional events are scheduled for February and April 2025. Please register for a ticket - so we can manage capacity. For further information, please visit www.portsmouthlocaloffer.org/ontour today.
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School improvement
Help us promote the Teach Portsmouth Support and Teaching Assistant Jobs Fair |
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 Teach Portsmouth is excited to bring another recruitment fair to Cosham Community Centre on Wednesday 20 November from 10am - 2pm that focuses on support and teaching assistant jobs.
To help encourage more people to sign up and attend the event, we are asking schools in the city, to share information through their social media pages and in their school newsletters.
Please include the following text:
Get your ticket to the Teach Portsmouth Support and Teaching Assistant Jobs Fair
If you want to support children and young people in a school, come along to Teach Portsmouth's next event on Wednesday 20 November at Cosham Community Centre from 10am to 11.45am and 12pm to 2pm.
- Watch short presentations on how to join a school and become a teaching assistant
- Hear from experienced support staff from Portsmouth's classrooms
- Learn about training and apprenticeship opportunities
- Explore current vacancies from schools on the jobs board
Attend one of two identical sessions at 10am and 12pm. Visit the Teach Portsmouth website and get your free ticket today!
https://www.teachportsmouth.co.uk/TA
Let's create a teaching assistant charter together |
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We would like to thank everyone who has contacted Teach Portsmouth to be part of creating a teaching assistant retention charter.
While the initial interest has been positive, we would still like representation from teaching assistants.
As a reminder, Teach Portsmouth is creating a charter that sets out a series of values that schools can choose to adopt, using insight from a teaching assistant retention survey. The survey was completed by 179 teaching assistants.
The session will be held on Thursday 5 December 2024 from 4pm to 6pm at the Civic Offices. Refreshments and snacks will be provided.
Please share this opportunity with your colleagues who are teaching assistants. To reserve their place, please email teachportsmouth@portsmouthcc.gov.uk..
More information on the teaching assistant charter can be found on the Portsmouth Education Partnership website.
Participation and progression
White Ribbon Day - PSHE lesson plans and resources |
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White Ribbon Day is on 25 November, and it’s a great opportunity to explore issues around equality, respect, and safe relationships in PSHE.
This year’s theme, “Change Starts with Me”, encourages students to consider how they can help prevent gender-based harm and make a positive difference.
White Ribbon’s campaign focuses on preventing violence against women and girls by challenging harmful attitudes around gender norms and masculinity, aiming to create a safer environment for everyone.
The Department for Education recommends covering topics like consent, online safety, and healthy relationships in PSHE to help students feel safe and confident in recognising respectful behaviours.
Ideas for class:
- Explore how language impacts self-esteem and relationships.
- Start a discussion on where gender norms come from and how they shape attitudes.
Helpful resources
PSHE Association: Resources and guidance for teaching topics like misogyny, toxic masculinity, and social media influence, suitable for KS1-4.
White Ribbon: Specific lesson plans and resources for primary and secondary students based on this year’s theme. Access via White Ribbon’s Dropbox.
Get involved with a virtual school exchange |
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Liz Lord, Primary Languages Lead at the Solent Language Hub, is encouraging Portsmouth's schools to link up with a school abroad as part of a virtual exchange.
Your school could choose an exchange partner in Caen, Duisburg or Valencia (or all three). A virtual exchange can be a power motivator for language learning.
To be part of this exciting project, please send the name of your school and a contact person to tanya.riordan@port.ac.uk in the first instance.
Update from Hampshire Outdoors |
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Please find the Autumn 2 2024 edition of Hampshire Outdoors’ outdoor learning newsletter.
In this edition we are looking at natural loose parts and ways of using them to support curriculum learning outdoors.
Amongst other things, there is also a great case study on outdoor learning at The Schools of Woolton Hill and a follow-up article about our recently held outdoor learning conference.
You can also find the newsletter along with lots of other resources to support you delivering the curriculum outdoors, on our Trailblazer website including Using Natural Loose Parts to Support Curriculum Learning Outdoors.
Increased fees for online DBS checking service |
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Portsmouth City Council have received communication from uCheck (the online DBS checking service) that the Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) are increasing their fees from
2 December 2024.
Unfortunately, uCheck don't have control over these fee increases and this means that you'll be paying more for DBS Checks, regardless of who you conduct them through. New pricing can be found below.
These changes are necessary to maintain the highest quality, to allow DBS to effectively safeguard our society.
NEW PRICING:
- Enhanced DBS Checks - £49.50
- Standard DBS Checks - £21.50
- Basic DBS Checks - £21.50
Please note there will be no changes to the uCheck admin fee.
Update from Bereavement and Loss Network |
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A reminder to all Portsmouth infant, primary and senior schools about linking a member of staff up to the bereavement and loss network. It is really helpful when a member of staff changes school or moves on, that they try to ensure that someone else takes their place in coming along to meetings or are at least signed up to receive the information and to access support.
Please share my details if you know of anyone who would like to be included. The network meetings are informal, but full of useful and supportive information for staff managing bereavement and loss situations. There are 3 or 4 meetings per year but everyone is free to attend if/when they are available.
Details of the meetings are sent out to everyone within the network and schools can contact me to ask for any support in regards to information/signposting. llynch@craneswater.portsmouth.sch.uk
Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA) Training Course 2024/25 |
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The Educational Psychology Team are once again hosting an ELSA Training Course over 6 separate days starting in November 2024. The course is primarily for Teaching Assistants / Learning Mentors who wish to support children and young people in all aspects of emotional literacy.
Topics covered will be building relationships, social and friendship skills, self-esteem, emotional regulation, anxiety, neurodiversity, loss and bereavement and emotional wellbeing. Trainee ELSAs will also learn specific techniques such as active listening and writing social stories.
The training will be held at The Training & Learning Centre, The Portsmouth Academy, St Marys Road, Portsmouth over 6 days (all Wednesdays) - 27 November 2024, 15 January, 26 February, 26 March, 30 April and 25 June 2025.
The cost will be £575 per delegate. Please note there is also an ongoing commitment to attend supervision sessions following training to maintain the ELSA status. A leaflet with details about the ELSA role and upcoming training is attached.
The course can be booked through the Portsmouth Traded Services website (Course Code PLG2-1124-T001) or by emailing Philippa Wilson (Philippa.wilson@portsmouthcc.gov.uk)
An Introduction to Sensory Integration and Processing |
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Date: 21st November whole day (9:30-2:30)
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Location: Mary Rose Academy
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Maximum delegates: 10 people
Aimed at: Teachers, HLTAs, 1:1 TAs, SEN(D)CO, Assistant SEN(D)CO, all staff supporting children with SEND in Primary school.
This course: Sensory integration and processing is a huge and evolving topic. This training is an introduction to what it is and how it effects everyone, especially some of our pupils. It gives professionals an awareness of their own sensory needs and how to put on their 'sensory goggles' when working with their own pupils. It also gives some tips and tricks on how to help support them to be regulated and ready to learn within the classroom.
To book a place email: Stephanie.Andrews@portsmouthcc.gov.uk providing full names and email addresses.
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